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Monday, May 13, 2013

CREATING CHARACTERS THAT COME TO LIFE!

Hi, my name is
Giles.I’m the protagonist,
indomitable hero and irresistible girl magnet in James Mihaley’s novel, ‘You
Can’t Have My Planet But Take My Brother, Please’.James asked me to talk to you today about creating vivid
characters that spring to life.

I didn’t ask you
to say anything, Giles.I told you
to stay inside the book and not get in any trouble.That’s what I asked you to do.But did you do it?No, of course not.Because
you never listen to me.

James often gets
annoyed with me because I have a life of my own and he didn’t create me and
this is a direct threat to his self-esteem.How do you like that?I’m a kid and I already use words like self-esteem.

If I didn’t
create you then where did you come from?

I was floating
around the ethers like all fictional characters.When we see a story that we like we come floating down into
it.

I can’t believe
I’m having this conversation.

James, you’re lucky
I have no interest in royalties.Otherwise, I’d hire a lawyer to get a piece of the pie.After all, I wrote this book.

You did not
write this book, Giles.

Am I or am I not
the narrator of ‘You Can’t Have My Planet But Take My Brother, Please’?

Yes, you’re the
narrator.But I created you.I created that voice.You are a figment of my imagination.

James, you make one
more crack like that and I’m hiring a lawyer.

What for?There’s nowhere to spend money in the
ethers.

That’s a good
point, James.The ethers are far
too glorious for money.

Listen,
Giles.If you’re going to keep talking
then make yourself useful.Tell
the reader how to create unforgettable characters.

Ok, ok.The first thing you have to do is give
your main character a pulse.Put your ear to the page and listen for a heartbeat.If you don’t hear a heartbeat then you
need to focus all your creative energy on creating one.Your main character should be more
alive than your husband, more alive than your wife or son or daughter or poodle
or personal trainer.

Do they have
personal trainers in the ethers?

James, I’m trying
to be serious here.Why do you
keep screwing around?

I’m sorry.Go on.

Your main character
should have the strongest heartbeat in the history of the world.It should be louder then a thousand
drumbeats.That should be your
goal.

Are you finished,
Giles?

Yes, I’m finished
James.And all I can say is,
you’re lucky I don’t want a percentage of the film rights.

DISCLAIMER

The authors of Project Mayhem do their best to provide accurate, witty, and sometimes manic information pertaining to all things middle grade. Any resemblance to anybody else's manic, witty, and accurate information is purely serendipitous. However, the views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of the other writers on this blog. Except, we all agree that reading Project Mayhem will brighten your day. Drop by mic.